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The front door closed with a thud, making Carmen jump. The spoon of spaghetti sauce she was holding fell to the floor, splatting her legs. “Jesus,” she hissed. Why did everyone have to make her fucking jump?

“Hey, Hermana,” Mateo called. He glided into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Carmen.

“Who are you, and why are you in my house?”

“Okay, I get it, I suck. I’m sorry. I told you I would be around more and have done the exact opposite.”

“It’s fine,” she smiled, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“No, it’s not. But I’m here now and it’s high time we had an evening together.”

“What’s with the sudden worry?” Carmen hadn’t meant for it to come out as a snarky comment, but Mateo’s wince said it had.

“Enid,” Mateo mumbled, his eyes dropping to the floor.

“Enid?”

“Yeah, she, um… she had a chat with me.”

“Okay, about?”

“How I’ve dropped you for a piece of ass.”

“Whoa, I don’t think that. I know Daniel is important to you.”

“I know, but she isn’t wrong. I just got swept up in him and totally bailed on you.” Mateo toed the floor. “I knew something was going on with you, but ignored it because I was enjoying being with Daniel.”

Okay, that kind of stung. Carmen would drop everything for Mateo, no matter who she was with. “It’s fine.” Another half-smile.

Mateo grabbed Carmen by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “No, it’s not. No man or woman or any other person, for that matter, should ever be more important than you and me. I lost sight of that for a second and I’m sorry. I’m here now though. I’ve told Daniel I need to spend some time at home and he understands.”

“Mateo, you didn’t have to do that. I’m fine, really.”

“And if I didn’t know you so well, I might be inclined to believe that mierda! But I do know you, and you’ve been struggling. Ever since we got home.”

Turning off the stove, Carmen occupied herself with serving up food for them both. Mateo set the table silently, waiting for Carmen to open up. Halfway through their dinner, Carmen finally spoke. “I slept with Molly.”

“I thought so.”

“Was it obvious to everyone?” Carmen didn’t like the idea of being talked about.

“I think it’s safe to say Enid and Bessie knew too, but we didn’t gossip. I promise.”

“Sure.”

“Hey, look at me,” Mateo pleaded. “We didn’t gossip.”

“Ugh, it doesn’t matter anyway. We made a mistake and made life awkward.”

“Is that why you’re so down lately?”

Carmen scooted her spaghetti around her plate. “It was amazing,” she mumbled.

“Amazing?”

“Yeah. The sex. It was amazing.”

“Okay, why do you sound upset about that?” Mateo chuckled.